Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park — A federal board will soon consider whether to restore the Cherokee name to a mountain in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park that was named after a U.S. Senator and a commander for the Confederate Army during the Civil War in 1859.
Currently, it's known as Clingmans Dome. For thousands of years before then, it was known as "Kuwohi," which means mulberry place. Mulberry is the type of fruit that is grown on the mountain. The mountain is the site of immense cultural and religious importance to the Cherokee. For example, a proposal for the name change said the mountain is the site where a council of Bears met according to some of the tribe's oral teachings.
It was also the place where the tribe fled for safety during the Trail of Tears.
In 2022, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians' Tribal Council passed a resolution that officially began the process of having its original name restored. As part of that process, several counties showed their support by passing symbolic resolutions, including Knox County and Campbell County.
On Sept. 18, the U.S. Board on Geographic Names will consider the application as part of the agenda for its next meeting. If approved, changes will be updated in the Geographic Names Information System up to four days after the decision. If it isn't approved, the board will need to provide a reason.
"Upon approval by the BGN, any new name or change is immediately official for Federal use. Any previous name should be replaced with the new name," the board said on its website.
While the name would be updated in the GNIS, the board also said it could take years for federal documents, maps with GNIS data and other kinds of materials to be updated with the restored name.